[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 82 (Friday, April 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22977-22978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-09096]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request: NSF 
Research Experience and Mentoring Survey

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
establish this collection. In accordance with the requirements of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are providing opportunity for 
public comment on this action. After obtaining and considering public 
comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) clearance of this collection for no longer 
than 3 years.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by June 29, 
2021 to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to address 
below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite 
W18200, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send 
email to [email protected]. Individuals who use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay 
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 
days a week, 365 days a year (including Federal holidays).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: NSF Research Experience and Mentoring Survey.
    OMB Number: 3145-NEW.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Not applicable.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to establish an 
information collection.
    Abstract:
    The Research Experience and Mentoring (REM) Program supports the 
active involvement of research participants (RPs) that include high 
school students, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics 
(STEM) teachers, undergraduate STEM students, faculty, and veterans, in 
hands-on research in order to bring participants into contact with STEM 
mentors and expose them to a summer research experience. Research 
participants are recruited as cohorts in order to facilitate mentoring 
and research activities, community building, and provide mutual student 
support. The main goals of the REM Program are to provide research 
experiences and mentored opportunities to STEM students and/or 
educators that may ultimately enhance their career and academic 
trajectories while enhancing NSF research projects by the Emerging 
Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) program and the Engineering 
Research Centers (ERC). The REM Program may also enable the building of 
long-term collaborative partnerships among EFRI- and ERC-supported 
researchers, community colleges, local four-year colleges, and local 
school districts.
    A REM supplement of maximum of $110,000 over a 1-year period. 
Activities that are innovative and site-specific are encouraged. 
Effective REM programs typically have many of the following 
characteristics, which are provided here as general guidelines: 
mentorship training for researchers and affiliated graduate students or 
postdoctoral researchers; well-designed, introductory training for RPs; 
Six to ten weeks of summer research (full time); Continued mentorship 
of RPs throughout the academic year; Participation of RPs in research 
team meetings and topic-related conferences or workshops; and guidance 
for RPs in co-authoring publications and/or posters.
    NSF is requesting OMB approval for the REM program to collect 
information from past and present research

[[Page 22978]]

participants and mentors. The REM program seeks to collect data from 
research participants and mentors to: (1) Inform REM programming (e.g., 
to identify areas of growth); and (2) conduct retrospective analysis of 
the REM program to assess the success of REM historically.
    Use of the Information: The information collected is primarily for 
the use of the NSF REM program to assess the success of the program and 
for informing decisions NSF will make regarding future programming and 
support provided to research participants.
    Estimate burden on the public: Estimated at 180 hours for a one-
time collection.
    Respondents: All REM research participants and mentors will be 
invited to respond to the survey. The REM research participants include 
high school students, STEM teachers, undergraduate STEM students, 
faculty, and veterans.
    Estimated number of respondents: 540 (representing a 60% response 
rate).
    Average Time per Reporting: The online survey is comprised 
primarily of closed-ended questions and is designed to be completed by 
respondents in under 20 minutes.
    Frequency: One-time collection.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Agency, including whether the information shall 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.
    Please submit one copy of your comments by only one method. All 
submissions received must include the agency name and collection name 
identified above for this information collection. Commenters are 
strongly encouraged to transmit their comments electronically via 
email. Comments, including any personal information provided become a 
matter of public record. They will be summarized and/or included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the information 
collection request.

    Dated: April 27, 2021.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2021-09096 Filed 4-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P